groves



March 11 1924.

E. C. GROVES ROTARY ENGINE Filed March 22. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gnven'ro z Z C690 was E. C. GROVES ROTARY ENGINE arch 11 1924; f w 1,4

Filed March 22. 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

Patented Mar. 11, 1924.

EARL C. GROVES, OF HOBSON, MONTANA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO WAI'IE LAND & LIVESTOCK COMPANY, OF UTIGA, MONTANA, A CORPORATION OF MONTANA.

' ROTARY ENGINE,

. Application filed March 22, 1920. Serial No. 367,912. x

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARL C. GRovEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hobson, in the county of Fergus and State of Montana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in rotary engines wherein the motive force is a suitable fluid under pressure such as steam, air, and the like, and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel and improved device' of this general character wherein the stator and rotor are provided with coacting abutments, one of which abutments being movable to permit'unhindered rotation of the rotor.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this general character havingrnovel and improved means whereby the rotor is reversible or may operate in opposite directions as may be occasioned by the requirements of practice.

An additional object is to provide a novel and improved engine of this general char-' acter wherein the induction and eduction of the operating fluid is under control of the rotor.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved engine whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device renderedsimpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely claimed.

In order thatv my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in end elevation of an engine constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a view in elevation of-the opposite end ,of the engine from that illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a View partly in topplan and partly in horizontal section of the device as herein embodied.

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view taken substantially on the line 4 -4 of F igure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view taken subistantially on the line 5-5 of Figure 4:; an

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional View taken substantially on the line 66 of Figure 4:.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, S denotes'a stator comprising a cylinder or casing 10 having its axis longitudinally disposed and held in working position by the supports or saddles 11. The opposite ends of the cylinderor casing 10 are open.

. R denotes a rotor and which comprises a hub 12 positioned at the axial center of the cylinder or casing 10 and of a length slightly less than the length of the cylinder or casing S. Radiating from the hub 12 is a vane 13 affording a member with which the motive fluid coacts. The vane 13 extends in close proximity to the inner face of the side wall of the casing or cylinder 10 and the outer end or edge of said vane 13 is fitted with the packing 14 which is in direct contact with said inner face of the said wall of the cylinder or casing 10.

The opposite ends of the casing or cylinder 10 are closed by the heads 15 and 16 suitably secured, as at 17, to the ends of the hub 12 whereby said heads 15 and 16 rotate with said hub. The heads 15 and 16 have extending therethrough the reduced extensions 18 carried by the opposite ends of the hub 12 at the axial center thereof and either or both of which serving as a driving medium. I

Carried by the upper portion of the easing or cylinder 10 are the longitudinally spaced and aligned chests 19 and 20. Between the chests 19 and 20 and mounted within suitable guide grooves provided in the opposite faces thereof is a vertically movable stem 21. The stem 21 is carried by the upper portion of a sliding abutment 22 which normally extends within the casing or cylinder 10 and has contact with the peripheral surface ofjthe hub 12. The opening in the wall of the cylinder or casing 10, through which the f abutment 22 works, is provided with a suitable packing 23 coacting with said abutment 22 and for a purpose which is believed'to be self-evident.

The chest 19 is provided with the ports 24: and 25 in communication with the interior of the cylinder or casing 10 at opposite sides of the abutment 22. The chest 20 is in communication with the interior of the casing or housing 10 by the ports 26 and 27 also arranged at opposite sides of said sliding abutment 22.

Supported within the chest 19 for sliding movement in a horizontal path is a valve 29. The valve 29, as herein disclosed, comprises a flat plate provided therethrough with an opening or port 30 which, when the valve 29 is at the limit of its inward movement, registers with the port 25. When the plate 29 is in this position, it closes the port 24. When the valve 29 is in its retracted or second position, the port 24 is open and the port 25 closed so that by proper adjustment of the valve 29, the direction of rotation of the rotor B may be as desired or, in other words, the valve 29 affords a convenient and effective means for reversing the'direction of rotation of said rotor.

Inthe valve chest 20operates a valve 31 for controlling the exhaust. This valve is also a flat platehaving an opening or port 32 therethrough which is adapted to register with the port 27 when at the limit of its inward movement-"and when in such position to close the port 26. When in its second or retracted position, the valve 31 closes the port 27 and opens the port 26. The valves 29 and 31 operate in unison but in reverse directions and in the present embodiment of my invention, the outer end portions of said valves 29 and 31 are operatively engaged to a lever 33. The lever 33 is horizontally disposed and pivoted intermediate its ends to a bracket 34 positioned at a point between the valve chest 19 and 20. The lever 33 is adapted to be manually operated and for which reason one end portion thereof, as illustrated in Figure 3, is reduced to afford a convenient hand grasp or handle.

The upper or top wall of the chest'19 is provided with an induction port 35 through which the fluid passes from the dome 36 and which dome'is adapted for communicationwith a suitable source of fluid supply. The port 35 is under control of a sliding valve 37 extending exteriorly of the chest through a slot in an end wall thereof. The portion of the valve 37 eXteriorly of the chest is provided with a notch into which extends an end portion of a vertically disposed lever 38 pivotally supported, as at 41, intermediate its length by suitable bracket. The opposite or lower end portion of the lever 38 has mounted thereon a roller 39 which is normally in the path of travel of a cam 40 carried by the outer face of-the head 16. A spring 42 coacts with the valve 37 and normally maintains the same in open position. When the cam 40 engages the roller .39, the leveris swung in a direction to move the valve 39 in closed position and whenthe roller rides off said cam 40, the spring 42 operates automatically to move the valve 37 into open position and thereby permitting the fluid. to enter the chest 19/ The upper or top wall" of the and positioned in the path of travel of said cam 43 is a roller 44 carried by a vertical slidingplate 45 mounted in the guides'46. The plate 45 is provided with an opening into which extends an end portion of a substantially horizontally disposed lever 47. The lever 47 is pivotally supported intermediate its ends by a rod 48. The opposite end portion of the lever 47 is connected by means of a link 49 to the stem 21 of the abutment, Coactingwith the lever 47 is a spring 50 which tends to constantly urge the lever in a direction to normally maintain the abutment 22 in contact with the peripheral surface of the hub 12.

During the operation of my improved engine, the abutment 22 is withdrawn or retracted from holding the casing or cylinder 7 10 when the vane 13 closely approaches said sliding abutment 22. This movement of the abutment 22 is effected by the engagement of the cam 43 with the roller 44 from above whereby the plate 45 is caused to move downwardly resulting in an elevation of the end portion of the lever 47 remote from the plate 45. v

The inner faces of the heads 15 and 16 are provided with the packing rings 51 coacting with the cylinder or casing 10 in a well known manner-to prevent leakage. p

In operation, the heads 15 and 16 rotate with the hub 12 and when the vane 13 closely approaches the abutment 22, the lever is retracted in a manner hereinbefore described. When the cam 43 clears the roller 44, they abutment 22 automatically returns to its normal position and during which period the vane 13 has passed the abutment 22. The expansive fluid is then admitted into the cylinder by the opening of the valve 37 through the means hereinbefore set forth. When the cam 40 clears the roller 39, the valve 37 automatically closes setting off the supply of expansive particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A rotary engine including a cylinder having open ends, a cylindrical rotor axially arranged within the cylinder and having a rigid radial vane or piston engaging the inner surface of the cylinder, said rotor being of lesser diameter than the diameter of the openings in the ends of the cylinder and being shorter than the cylinder, circular heads fixed rigidly to the ends of the rotor and rotatably fitting in the ends of the cylinder for supporting the rotor in its operative position and closing the ends of the cylinder, said cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, a spring opened valve for controlling the inlet port, means embodying a cam on the outer surface of one of said heads for intermittently closing said valve, a sliding radial abutment arranged between said ports normally having its inner end engaging the periphery of the rotor and having its outer end projecting through the cylinder, and means to intermittently lift said abutment outwardly out of the path of the piston.

2. A rotary engine including a cylinder having open ends, a cylindrical rotor axially arranged within the cylinder and having a rigid radial vane or piston engaging the inner surface of the cylinder, said rotor being of lesser diameter than the diameter of the openings in the ends of the cylinder and being shorter than the cylinder, circular heads fixed rigidly to the ends of the rotor and rotatably fitting in the ends of the cylinder for supporting the rotor in its operative position and closing the ends of the cylinder, said cylinder having inlet and exhaust ports, a spring opened valve for controlling the inlet po-rt, means embodying a cam on the outer surface of one of said heads for intermittently closing said valve, a sliding radial abutment arranged between said ports normally having its inner end engaging the periphery of the rotor and having its outer end projecting through the cylinder, a lever pivoted between its ends on the cylinder and having its inner end flexibly connected to the abutment, a. vertically slid able member resting on the outer end of &

said lever and having a depending port provided with a roller, and a cam on the outer face of the other head arranged to intermittently engage said roller and to pass the roller outwardly of the latter for causin inward movement of the roller and the sli ing member carrying the same so as to swing the inner end of the lever outwardly and cause a similar movement of the abutment whereby said abutment is intermittently lifted out of the path of the piston.

3. A rotary engine including a cylinder, a rotor within the cylinder having a radial vane or piston, a pair of spaced valve chests, each having a pair of ports leading to the cylinder, a radially sliding abutment extending between the ports of both valve chests, slide valve plates in said chests, each adapted to selectively close one port and simultaneously open the other port of its chest, a lever p ivotally supported between its ends and having connection with said valve plates at opposite sides of its pivot whereby one valve plate is positioned with a port of its chest open at one side of the abutment and the other valve plate is simultaneously positioned with a port of its chest open at the other side of the abutment, whereby swinging of the lever will cause reversal of the direction of rotation of the rotor, and means to intermittently lift said abutment outwardly out of the path of said vane.

4. A rotary engine including a cylinder, a rotor within the cylinder having a radial vane or piston, a pair of spaced valve chests, each having a pair of ports leading to the cylinder, a radially sliding abutment extending between the ports of both valve chests, slide valve plate in said chests, each adapted to selectively close one port and simultaneously open the other port of its chest, a lever pivotally supported between its ends and having connection with said valve plates at opposite sides of its pivot whereby one valve plate is positioned with a. port of its chest open at one side of the abutment and the other valve plate is simultaneously positioned with a port of its chest open at the other side of the abutment, whereby swinging of the lever will cause reversal of the direction of rotation of the rotor, and means to intermittently lift said abutment outwardly out of the path of said vane, said last named means including a stem project ing outwardly from the abutment and slidably mounted in guides between the adjacent walls of the valve chests, and operative connections between said stem and the rotor.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

EARL C. GROVES, 

